Painting on canvas is a really fun exercise. It takes thought, generates imagination, and engages the mind and soul. It is also a project everyone can do. Rarely do you find an activity that is for all ages and will create a bonding moment as well. When is the last time you painted? Very few of us ever do, and yet painting is about telling a story and creating a product from your own mind.

As a homeschool mom and entrepreneur, I tend to lean towards projects that foster creativity. But even for traditional school kids, supplementing the things they learn in school, or breaking out the canvas for a family project one night a month, is a fun and unexpected surprise.

Our paintings from when our guests visited are still hanging in the kitchen, each one reminding me of the child who created it. Some of the themes are deeply profound, others frivolous. Each one is beautiful in its own way.

Are your kids feeling cooped up in the house on weekends? Go buy some blank canvasses and paint. Give them license to create art for your walls. If have guests in town, this is an unforgettable memory that even grandparents and all relatives and friends can participate in and have fun.

What craft projects do you like to do as a family?

Photo Courtesy of flickr.

Tammy Kling is a life coach, crisis management expert, and advocate for the homeless. She is an international author of 37 books including The Compass. Tammy is also the founder of The Homeless Writers Project, an organization that helps those living on the street write out their hopes & dreams via writers workshops, free journals and other resources. Tammy is a mom of two boys, an avid trail and mountain runner, blogger, and adventure travel writer

8 Simple Ways to Practice Your Creativity

1. Give homemade pies or cookies in a jar for neighbors at Christmas. Here’s a simple recipe recommended by Shari Butler of Doohikey Designs on our own Jen Tilley’s How To: Simplify food blog.
2. Host an annual family cookiebake day. @sharon_sews says you end up with “lots of treats and memories!”
3. Host an annual girls’ cookie exchange. Bake a couple dozen cookies of a few varieties, and invite a handful of friends to do the same and bring theirs, along with copies of recipes, to your house at a given time. You end up with a fun, yummy time!
4. Play cupcake wars with your kids. For ideas on how to do that, be creative, or go to her blog, NotJustAHousewife.net.
5. Throw a shrimp boil. Yes, creativity can play a part in that too. Cindy Hopper provides these ideas.
6. Make a custom label for a gift you either make or buy, or put it in a custom container such as an old mason jar or paper box.
7. Invest some special time in dying Easter eggs with your kids by dying the eggs with food. Read GreekMomma’s story of how she did that.
8. Cover your Thanksgiving table in kraft paper, supply crayons, and invite your guests to go to town. This idea was recommended by Kim Demmon of Today’sCreativeBlog.

What are your favorite craft projects? What craft projects do your kids? What do you love most about items that are homemade?

Photo courtesy of nuttakit.

To her, movement is creativity, and it can be expressed in many different ways, she says, and with different goals. Dance itself can be “a medium for social change,” she says. It can be a form of movement in more than one way. For instance, she is currently developing a dance project based on the struggles of carpet weavers from India’s northern Kashmir region. Their fine craft involves working with a material that makes their eyes go bad in eight years, so they have to teach it quickly to those who come after them to ensure the maintenance of the craftsmanship. This piece and others will go into a touring performance that will raise money for three mother-and-children-based charities in India.

Maria is actually from India, and when she was little, her mother would take her to help out at one of Mother Teresa’s leper colonies, where a seed was planted in her heart, the seed of generosity and giving back. She migrated to America when she was 12, and eventually married and adopted a 1 1/2 year-old daughter. Unfortunately, they lost that daughter for a year and a half, then got her back. That time was difficult for her; she stopped doing most of her dancing. But when they got their daughter Lily back, she experienced not only a resurgence of the joy of parenting but also a resurgence of the desire to move and create and feel the satisfaction of creating something original from one’s own mind. She wanted to “spread the love.”

Maria has a quest, and she brings to that quest a unique breadth of experience. She is hoping to take the money raised, as well as some of her dancers and board of directors, with her to India to give to those carefully-picked charities not only the checks but she hopes to begin long-term relationships with these groups to “nurture” them. Nurturing is indeed something she’s good at, something that is important to her. To those other mothers out there who want to nurture their sense of inner creativity, she advises them to:

• Make time to be by themselves.
• Turn all distractions—the TV, the computer, etc.—off.
• Just get your hands moving, even if it’s with something simple.

And to those mothers who want to nurture their inner giver, she advises them to check out Unicef and the Heifer project.

Let’s all be about creativity. Let’s follow Maria’s example and seek creative solutions to the problems we see.

To find out more about Maria, go to NewYorkMom.wordpress.com, or MariaColaco.com, or find her on Facebook or Twitter @pluslily.

Photo at top courtesy of Flickr.

I bought all the supplies, even cute little smocks, and let my kids loose. And wow! What a mess! I had to immediately bathe my boys after their finger painting foree and years later, I still feel like I’m cleaning up the little bits of Play Doh that worked its way into the tiniest nooks and crannies in our kitchen.

What I learned quickly? Fun can be messy. Creativity, before it reaches its final product, can be chaotic. But regardless of the aftermath, investing in this type of play with my children was always worth it.

Getting kids out of their comfort zones early in life teaches them to explore, ask questions, think differently, problem solve, and come up with creative ideas and solutions. In other words, saying “yes” to mess actually helps kids in their development.

At Toy Fair this past week, I came across another product that would require me to say “yes” to mess—Crayola’s Washable Color Bubbles. I immeditately asked if I could blow some, knowing if I got any on my skin, I’d need to wash up. Why? Because in that single New York minute, I could be an uninhibited kid again and blow bubbles, but not only bubbles, but vibrant purple, green, and orange bubbles that ran the risk of making me, heaven forbid, wash my hands.

The bigger risk with these is that the colors can get on clothes. So, if you’re like me—a mom who says yes to mess—make sure you take the kids outdoors before the bubble blowing fun begins, and if possible, have them wear older clothes or t-shirts, and make sure to wash the clothes according to the directions on the package. The most fun option I’ve heard? Do this as a summer activity, have the kids wear their swims suits, and after they are done creating a colorful collage on their hands or bodies, have them run through the sprinklers.

Are you a mom who says “yes” to mess? Why or why not? What’s your favorite messy craft project to work on with your kids?

Note: This is not an official product review. I tested the bubbles at Toy Fair, but have not purchased the product or had my kids play with it. Stay tuned this summer for part two, when I take the kids outdoors for some creative, colorful, and messy fun!

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All photos in this post and slide show were used with permission from Jen Tilley. Check her awesome food photos out at How To: Simplify.

Sometimes when shopping for toys, I only think about my children. What would they like? What would help with their development? What would help them build curiosity and learn to problem solve? And sometimes I forget that toys can be equally as important for adults as children. They get you out of your routine, help you to stop thinking about the pressing items you have to deal with in your every day life, and most importantly, help you build creativity. This can not only be stress relieving and fun, but can also inspire your work in other areas.

If I were to name one toy from my children’s collection that has helped me develop creativity, it’d be Thomas the Tank Engine. When my kids were younger, we’d spend hours building train tracks and villages and telling stories about the trains and the people in the villages. I’d find myself building more and more creative tracks long after my children had moved on to another toy.

And then there are the classics like the Rock-A-Stack. You know? The stackable, brightly colored rings. They now have them in Stack and Roll Cups and my modern-day favorite, the Little Superstar Classical Stacker. Add a little music and I’m always game.

I enjoyed a fun twist on this toy the other night when I attended a Fisher-Price event at the Loew’s Regency Hotel, which partners with Fisher-Price to create family-friendly experiences for hotel guests (what’s not to love about that?). The centerpieces were brightly colored flowers tucked inside classic Fisher-Price toys, including the Rock-A-Stack. It was fun to head back down memory lane and think of playing with this toy as a child and later, buying it, albeit in a more modern rendition, as an adult for my own children. I always wonder how “they” come up with these fabulous inventions:

The Fisher-Price Play Laboratory, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, was the first child research center of its kind in the industry. Herman Fisher established the Play Lab to observe real children playing with the company’s toys during various stages of development. The Play Lab remains at the heart of product development today.

So, whether you are purchasing the latest and greatest gadgets for your children or looking for educational-oriented toys to help with their development, don’t forget to factor yourself into the equation and buy things that you can do right along side them to enhance your own creativity.

Tips to Discovering Your Inner Child

Here are a few tips to create a family-wide , creative reawakening:

1. Get Up and Dance! Dancing is a great form of creativity that appeals to most age groups.  The unwrapping of the Just Dance 2 for Wii game this holiday season inspired my 83-year old father-in-law to dance to Walk Like an Egyptian, alongside his giggling 7 and 5-year old granddaughters who shook their booties to Ke$ha’s Tik Tok.  Talk about a scene I thought I’d never witness!    It was truly a highlight of the holiday and certainly one that brought the whole family together.  Even in non-holiday mode, most people love to move to music whether it is ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop or even just an exercise class.  For dancers of all ages, movement is a creative outlet—as well as great exercise!  Get out those tutus and have fun!
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2. Turn Up the Music! What’s dance without music?  Music may be the most universal of creative outlets.  Across all ages and cultures, it is a constant that is enjoyed and expressed in varied ways.  From learning to play an instrument to composing original music, along with singing, or even just listening to tunes on an iPod, music makes the world go ‘round for people all over the globe.
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3. Create Your Own Work of Art. There’s high art and low art and just about everything in between.  For children, coloring, painting and drawing are among the most commonly available art forms, but beading, play-dough, and paper crafts are just as meaningful expressions of creative style.  Adults who enjoy scrapbooking, sewing and/or even designing baby clothes, jewelry-making, and floral arranging are also engaging in creative visual artwork and exercising their creative muscles through these fun pastimes.
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4. Stock Up! Creativity takes countless other forms—writing being the one of my choice!  What other shapes does your creativity take?  To nurture and increase the creativity in your household, why not invest in a few basic supplies for your home so that anytime the mood strikes, you are free to create.  Stock up your cupboards and art cabinets with these staples:

• Colored construction paper
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils
• Washable paints
• Glue
• Scissors
• Beads & string
• Crafty embellishments like glitter, sequins, crafts sticks, fuzzy pom poms, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, etc.
• Fabric paint and old shirts, canvas bags, etc for decorating
• Silk flowers and headbands to embellish – Create hair accessories or even baby headbands to share and show off.
• Journals (for writing, art, composing music, etc)
• Musical instruments (homemade ones will do just fine!)
• CD’s, MP3 players, headphones
• Camera (photography holds all kinds of potential for creativity)

Much of creativity is about letting go, stepping outside of the box, and allowing your imagination to soar.  So, get out the smock, let go of the rules, and create with abandon alongside of your kids!  Let them re-teach you how to dance like no one is watching!

Cindy is the busy mother of three children, two websites (SkipToMyLou and SweetBakingSupply.com), and an actual, newly-opened baking supply store. She draws frequently upon the knowledge of arts and crafts she gained while getting a Bachelors Degree in Art Education, and her practical experience as a mother to children ages 18, 14, and 6. She says, “I love sharing my ideas so that so that [other moms] can make memories with [their] family and friends.” When asked where she gets her inspiration, she says “other people” and “everyday life.” Isn’t it interesting how she sees craft ideas in ordinary things, and I see To-Do lists and Gantt charts?

Cindy’s advice to people like me, to whom perfectionism, lack of ideas, time, or confidence present big obstacles to their creativity: “Change your perspective. Enjoy the experience, not necessarily the product.”  It does take a different mindset to be creative, and, although I joke about my rigidity, I can occasionally get into “the zone,” particularly when I write or scrapbook. I’ve felt harmony when words come together in my mind just right to perfectly describe a beautiful song. I’ve felt peace when design elements fall into place on a page to flawlessly accentuate a photo of my beautiful children. There is in fact much to be enjoyed about any creative endeavor.

And, like Cindy, I find that creativity flows better when engaging with my kids. Something about getting down on their level puts everything into a fun/not fun dichotomy, and by-gosh-darn-it, I do wanna have fun! Suddenly, I’m thinking her Egg Carton Caterpillars look so easy, and her Silly Snakes would make for a really enjoyable winter afternoon activity. And I wouldn’t have to go to the store and buy all the supplies for them, since I already have most of them around the house. I don’t have to add another item to my already huge to-do list. I can stop hyperventilating (I didn’t even realize I was doing that!)!

So in the end, maybe Cindy and I are not that different. I too like to “enjoy the experience.” I’ll still use my spreadsheets and lists, but I won’t forget that they are only a means to the end of making memories with my family.

Kim Demmon on the left

Four years ago, she started her site, which features a new creative blog almost every day, because she got inspiration from looking at the many creative projects other people put on their blogs. She wanted to highlight them and have them all together in one easy-to-access place, so she started TodaysCreativeBlog. She admits she feels like “Mr. Magoo,” having walking blindly into it, but she is continually excited by the the projects she sees and people she meets. “It’s been a wild ride,” she says. Over the years, she realized that the people she featured felt honored and empowered when highlighted on her site, so that has become her focus. Instead of featuring just products and projects, like many sites, she features people. “TodaysCreativeBlog is all about empowering and lifting women up. I am so lucky to have great readers who enjoy creative inspiration as much as I do,” she says.

Read her blog for five minutes, though, or better yet, talk to her for a while, and you’ll see that the site’s just another expression of her passion for creativity and connecting with other bloggers and moms. She is herself the mother of one 11-year-old boy, whom she adores, and says: “if you don’t feed yourself with something creative, you can’t enjoy being a mom.” Indeed, she feels strongly about being a mom, and the need for all women to realize the important role they play. Too often, she says, we block our own creativity by getting caught up in the obligations of being a mom. “But,” she advises, “don’t box yourself into what you think is creative. It can be creative homemaking, creative play, creative writing, etc. Even creating your day is important.”

So, as I’m preparing to write my New Years’ Resolutions, my weekly goals, and my daily to-do-lists, in danger of becoming overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what needs to be accomplished, I am refreshed when I visit her site. I am reminded of the importance, nay the necessity, of building an hour into each of my busy days to let the creative juices flow. I advocate the importance of hobbies for moms, as a means of much-needed balance. I, like Kim, adore my children and strive earnestly to nurture them on a daily basis. I stand with her in encouraging you to make each day creative, in whatever way you can.

Thank goodness education isn’t all about homework. Lots of learning happens through play, exploration, and discovery. And this week’s giveaway will help your kids do just that—learn while having fun!

The Prizes

Five lucky winners will receive a Chuggington prize pack. Prizes include (ARV $250):

• The Abso-TOOT-ly Traintastic Pack (grand prize): Fill Wilson Pack from Learning Curve, The Chugger Championship book from Scholastic, a Chuggington DVD screener from Anchor Bay Entertainment and a Chuggington conductor hat
• The Clackety Clack Pack: Training Yard Bridge Pack from Learning Curve, a Chuggington DVD screener from Anchor Bay Entertainment and a Chuggington Conductor hat
• The Honking Horns Pack: Learning Curve’s Fix and Go Repair Shed and Chugger Rolling Stock Pack, a Chuggington DVD screener from Anchor Bay Entertainment and a Chuggington Conductor hat
• 2 Trainee Packs: Each will include a Chuggington DVD screener from Anchor Bay Entertainment and a Chuggington Conductor hat.

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following three requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Follow @Chuggington on Twitter.
2. Visit http://chuggington.com, check out the Games (http://www.chuggington.com/#/chugger/games) and/or videos (http://www.chuggington.com/#/chugger/videos), come back here, and leave a comment on this site, sharing your favorite game or video or train you most think your child would like.
3. Tweet the following:

• Check out @Chuggington on Facebook @  http://www.facebook.com/chuggington #gno PLS RT
• GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win $250 @Chuggington prize pack. http://bit.ly/9xQP7m #gno PLS RT

Optional Entries

The following extra entry is completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for this giveaway. Leave a separate comment on this post for the completed entry.

Like the Chuggington page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuggington.

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at midnight ET Wednesday, September 15, 2010. See all terms and conditions here.

Prize

Two lucky winners will receive gift baskets from Crayola right in time for the holiday season and gift giving.

• Grand Prize Winner will receive a gift pack loaded with 30 amazing starter products to get those first-time Crayola kids started on some colorful fun (retail value: $200).
• Second Place Winner will receive six new products from Crayola: Magic Light Brush, Glow Board, Glow Station, Glow Dome, Color me a Song, Crayon Maker.

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do the following four things. Make sure to leave a comment here linking to each one:

1. Check out the #gno Crayola Whrrl story and leave a comment on one of the pictures.
2. Follow @Crayola on Twitter.
3. Become a fan of the Crayola Facebook Page.
4. Retweet and/or post the following two messages on Facebook and Twitter and comment here, linking to your update/post:

Join #gno Tues 11/10 (9-11 pm ET) 2 chat about creative holiday gift giving w/@crayola RSVP: http://bit.ly/1cuZfL PLS RT

GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win @Crayola gift packs just in time 4 holidays (2 winners/ret. val. $200!) http://bit.ly/QoTq8 #gno PLS RT

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Crayola and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Wednesday, November 11 at midnight PT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. One entry per person.